Support mechanism for thermal receivers in the solar trough systems

Abstract

A solar trough system of the invention comprises at least one trough-shaped reflector surface ( 1 ) directing beams coming from the sun to the focal axis (F); at least one thermal receiver ( 2 ) disposed at the focal axis (F) and extending along the reflector ( 1 ). Furthermore, the system comprises at least one first arm (L 1 ) and a second arm (L 2 ), one end of each of which are connected to two fixed points (P 1 , P 2 ) with swivel joint; at least one third arm (L 3 ) which is connected to the other ends of these two arms (L, L 2 ) from two points (P 3 , P 4 ) with swivel joint wherein the thermal receiver ( 2 ) is connected with swivel joint to a linear movement point (E 1 ) on the third arm (L 3 ) which moves with rotation of the first and second arms (L 1 , L 2 ).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A solar trough system comprising: at least one trough-shaped reflector surface directing beams coming from the sun to the focal axis; at least one thermal receiver disposed at the focal axis and extending along the reflector surface; and
 a support mechanism comprising at least one first arm and at least one second arm, one end of each of which is connected to two fixed points with a fixed swivel joint; at least one third arm which is connected to an other end of the respective first and second arms at a first movable point and a second movable point with moveable swivel joints; 
 the thermal receiver being connected to a linear movement point, which moves with rotation of the first and second arms, on the third arm with a thermal receiver swivel joint; 
 wherein the first arm and second arm are rotatable and each of the first arm and the second arm has a fixed length; and 
 wherein the fixed length of the first arm is 2½ units; the fixed length of the second arm is 1 unit; a length of the third arm is 5 units; a distance between the first movable point and the linear movement point is 2½ units; and a distance between the two fixed points is 2 units. 
 
     
     
       2. A solar trough system according to  claim 1  wherein the support mechanism comprises two four-bar mechanism using the second arm commonly, the two four-bar mechanism comprising two first arms connected to a first fixed point of the two fixed points with the fixed swivel joint, and two third arms; and
 wherein the thermal receiver is connected to the swivel jointed linear movement point of two additional third arms which are connected to two first movable points with the moveable swivel joints. 
 
     
     
       3. A solar trough system comprising:
 at least one trough-shaped reflector surface directing beams coming from the sun to the focal axis; at least one thermal receiver disposed at the focal axis and extending along the reflector surface; and 
 a support mechanism comprising at least one first arm and at least one second arm, one end of each of which is connected to two fixed points with a fixed swivel joint; at least one third arm which is connected to an other end of the respective first and second arms at a first movable point and a second movable point with moveable swivel joints; 
 the thermal receiver being connected to a linear movement point, which moves with rotation of the first and second arms, on the third arm with a thermal receiver swivel joint; and 
 wherein the fixed length of the first arm is 5 units; the fixed length of the second arm is 5 units; a length of the third arm is 2 units; the linear movement point is a midpoint of the third arm; and the distance between the two fixed points is 4 units. 
 
     
     
       4. A solar trough system according to  claim 3  wherein the support mechanism comprises two four-bar mechanism using the second arm commonly, the two four-bar mechanism comprising two first arms connected to a first fixed point of the two fixed points with the fixed swivel joint, and two third arms; and
 wherein the thermal receiver is connected to the swivel jointed linear movement point of two additional third arms which are connected to two first movable points with the moveable swivel joints. 
 
     
     
       5. A solar trough system comprising:
 at least one trough-shaped reflector surface directing beams coming from the sun to the focal axis; at least one thermal receiver disposed at the focal axis and extending along the reflector surface; and 
 a support mechanism comprising at least one first arm and at least one second arm, one end of each of which is connected to two fixed points with a fixed swivel joint; at least one third arm which is connected to an other end of the respective first and second arms at a first movable point and a second movable point with moveable swivel joints; 
 the thermal receiver being connected to a linear movement point, which moves with rotation of the first and second arms, on the third arm with a thermal receiver swivel joint; and 
 wherein the support mechanism comprises two four-bar mechanism using the second arm commonly, the two four-bar mechanism comprising two first arms connected to a first fixed point of the two fixed points with the fixed swivel joint, and two third arms; and 
 wherein the thermal receiver is connected to the swivel jointed linear movement point of two additional third arms which are connected to two first movable points with the moveable swivel joints. 
 
     
     
       6. A solar trough system according to  claim 5  wherein the first arm and the second arm are rotatable and each of the first arm and the second arm has a fixed length. 
     
     
       7. A solar trough system according to  claim 6  wherein: the fixed length of the first arm is 2½ units; the fixed length of the second arm is 1 unit;
 a length of the third arm is 5 units; a distance between the first movable point and the linear movement point is 2½ units; and a distance between the two fixed points is 2 units. 
 
     
     
       8. A solar trough system according to  claim 6  wherein the fixed length of the first arm is 5 units; the fixed length of the second arm is 5 units; a length of the third arm is 2 units; the linear movement point is a midpoint of the third arm; and the distance between the two fixed points is 4 units.